| Learning Objective #1: describe the differences between public and nurses' perception of the image of registered nurses. | |||
| Learning Objective #2: identify differences between selected variables and the Ward Image of Nurses Scale (WINS). |
The primary purpose of this study was to explore the similarities and differences between the public and nurses’ perception of the image of nurses. In nursing, image is a constant factor affecting both the advancement of the profession and the retention of nurses. A review of the literature revealed that there was conflicting information regarding the image of nurses provided in recent data on the public opinion of nurses’ image.
A descriptive comparative design was selected for this study because of the limited current knowledge about the phenomenon of the perception of the image of nurses. Symbolic Interactionism Theory (SIT), based on Kuhn’s (1964) structural approach, provided the theoretical basis for this study. The public and nurses’ perception of the image of nurses was measured using the Ward Image of Nurses Scale (WINS), developed by the researcher to describe the perception of the image of nurses. The WINS has documented content validity and high internal consistency reliability. A convenience sample of public (n = 185) and registered nurses (n = 118) was recruited and data were collected via the Internet. Descriptive statistics and t-tests were the statistical methods used for data analysis.
This study found that there was no significant difference between the public and nurses’ perceptions of the image of nurses; both groups scored moderately high on WINS, reflecting positive perceptions of the image of nurses. Public comments were added to this research and were representative of perceptions described in the current literature. The results of the research study provided a comparison of an initial measurement of the image of nurses held by two groups. The researcher discussed implications of the findings for nursing and made suggestions for future research using the WINS.